Rudheath teenagers transformed with motorbike project (From Northwich Guardian)

Rudheath teenagers transformed with motorbike project

3:00pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in News By Gina Bebbington

TEENAGERS from Rudheath have been learning new skills and testing them in the biggest off-road motorbike race in Europe.

Kyle Pugh and Alex Lewis have just returned from France after a year rebuilding a 1980’s off-road motorbike with friend Bobby McArthy and a team from the University of Chester Academy Northwich (UCAN).

They have been working with Tony Bayman, from Winsford, who has led the project and took them to the race, at Le Touquet.

Tony, who works with schools across Cheshire, said: “These lads have had some challenges educationally but have now found a way to reinvent themselves and turned negatives into positives.”

He added: “They’ve rebuilt this motorbike and taken it to the biggest off-road race in Europe.

“I said I would take them as a reward for their efforts they’ve made to themselves and also for what they’ve done in relation to the bike.

“1,200 riders take part in the race and over quarter of a million turn up to watch.

“This is why I do what I do – I’ve got this wonderful title of cognitive therapist but it’s about this whole gang who have had different parts to play in the project, I wanted to take them all to France.”

Tony has worked at the school, in Shipbrook Road, every Thursday, creating a mobile mechanics ‘classroom’ in the playground.

Different stages of the group’s work to refurbish the bike have also featured in a national dirt bike magazine.